Navigating the landscape of automated truck platooning: A systematic review on stakeholder perspectives, employment implications, and regulatory challenges

Abstract

Despite the economic and social benefits of vehicle automation and platooning, the penetration of automation in the trucking industry is concerning to the industry stakeholders. Assuming that future technical innovations will address the safety and reliability issues associated with automated truck platooning (ATP), societal concerns, especially the employment implications, require deeper exploration to frame adequate policies to allow ATP. Therefore, a systematic review of 33 relevant research articles and reports was conducted using the PRISMA technique. The study analyzed the perspectives of multiple stakeholders including drivers, policymakers, and fleet owners/industry explored in previous studies through interviews and discussions. The review suggests both positive and negative implications on employment rate, dependent on the scenario of ATP, potential of alternative job creation, and the pace of automation deployment. Previous discussions about ATP scenarios and pace of deployment further reveal the barriers perceived by stakeholders. The gap between research, stakeholders’ perspectives, and policy is identified as the root cause of delay in ATP deployment. Additionally, due to the varied physical and industrial geography and stringent safety considerations, platooning laws adopted across the US vary in requirements, such as licensing and on-site human presence, pre-approved travel corridors, etc. This review suggests that owners seek timely and incentivizing policies to invest in automation and upskill the existing workforce. Future studies should also explore the perspectives of state Departments of Transportation in addition to other stakeholders, to develop strategies and policies aimed at mitigating the concerns identified in this study to support the realization of ATP.